Policing Matters

Back in September 2016, 11 SWAT cops were hospitalized after a flash-bang tossed into an alleged stash house kicked up powdered fentanyl and heroin. This deadly opioid poses real risks to police officers, as fentanyl can be compared to taking 500 to 1,000 codeine pills – or fifteen times more potent than heroin. In this week's podcast, Jim and Doug discuss what officers need to keep in mind with regard to handling fentanyl.

In December 2014, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing the Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The president charged the task force with identifying best practices and offering recommendations on how policing practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. The task force released its final report in May of 2015. In it was what the task force called the “Six Pillars of 21st Century Policing.” Over the course of the last six weeks, Jim and Doug have discussed each of the six pillars. In this week’s podcast, Jim and Doug each offer thoughts on what they would add as the seventh pillar.

In December 2014, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing the Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The president charged the task force with identifying best practices and offering recommendations on how policing practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. The task force released its final report in May of 2015. In it was what the task force called the “Six Pillars of 21st Century Policing.” In this week’s podcast, Jim and Doug discuss the sixth and final pillar — Officer Wellness and Safety.

In December 2014, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing the Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The president charged the task force with identifying best practices and offering recommendations on how policing practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. The task force released its final report in May of 2015. In it was what the task force called the “Six Pillars of 21st Century Policing.” In this week’s podcast, Jim and Doug discuss the fifth pillar — Training and Education — and next week will tackle the final pillar.

In December 2014, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing the Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The president charged the task force with identifying best practices and offering recommendations on how policing practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. The task force released its final report in May of 2015. In it was what the task force called the “Six Pillars of 21st Century Policing.” In this week’s podcast, Jim and Doug discuss the fourth pillar — Community Policing and Crime Reduction — and in coming weeks will tackle each subsequent pillar in turn.

In December 2014, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing the Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The president charged the task force with identifying best practices and offering recommendations on how policing practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. The task force released its final report in May of 2015. In it was what the task force called the “Six Pillars of 21st Century Policing.” In this week’s podcast, Jim and Doug discuss the third pillar — Technology and Social Media — and in coming weeks will tackle each subsequent pillar in turn.

In December 2014, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing the Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The president charged the task force with identifying best practices and offering recommendations on how policing practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. The task force released its final report in May of 2015. In it was what the task force called the “Six Pillars of 21st Century Policing.” In this week’s podcast, Jim and Doug discuss the second pillar — Policy and Oversight — and in coming weeks will tackle each subsequent pillar in turn.

In December 2014, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing the Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The president charged the task force with identifying best practices and offering recommendations on how policing practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. The task force released its final report in May of 2015. In it was what the task force called the “Six Pillars of 21st Century Policing.” In this week’s podcast, Jim and Doug discuss the first pillar — Building Trust and Legitimacy — and in coming weeks will tackle each subsequent pillar in turn.

One need look no further than the comments section beneath just about any article on PoliceOne to see the divide between the rank-and-file officers and the men and women who hold leadership positions at an agency. This divide has been around forever, of course, but the question becomes, is it getting better, or worse? The issue that may be the most contentious is use of force. Jim and Doug discuss what can be done to build stronger, more productive relationships between police leaders and beat cops. Can the National FOP and the IACP rally around an issue like officer safety in this time of increased attacks on police?

As we wind down 2016, we reflect on all of the events and trends which made headlines and shaped the national conversation about law enforcement. In this special end-of-year Policing Matters podcast, Jim and Doug discuss four things they identify as the biggest trends of the year: the increase in the number of opioid deaths (which now exceeds the number of homicide deaths), the number of peaceful protests which turned into violent riots this year, the trend of increased crime in cities where cops are pulling back from proactive policing, and the spike in ambush attacks on LE in 2016. As always, if you have topic suggestions for the podcast, email us at [email protected].

Depending on whose data you cite, somewhere between 125 and 150 officers reportedly kill themselves annually. Conventional wisdom states that the holiday season presents an uptick in the yearly numbers. The CDC says that this is not the case, but regardless, we hope to prevent any suicide from occurring within the holidays. Jim and Doug discuss the need for officers to be vigilant about speech and behaviors that can be warning signs, as well as the various services available to people in crisis — such as Safe Call Now, Serve and Protect, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and 1st Help.

In an historic surprise victory, Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election. What can police officers expect from the White House after his inauguration on January 20, 2017? Having already telephoned the families of officers killed in the line of duty, one might rightly surmise that Trump will demonstrate more support for law enforcement than the outgoing Democrat whose two terms saw police and politicians pitted against each other. Jim and Doug discuss whether or not Executive Order 13688 — which prohibits certain military surplus from being donated to police — will be repealed, as well as various impacts a Trump presidency will likely have on the criminal justice system.

The 2016 election will surely be remembered most for the unexpected victory of Donald Trump in the race for the White House, but another potentially game-changing matter was on the ballot in nine states — marijuana legalization. Voters in California, Massachusetts, and Nevada approved recreational marijuana initiatives, joining the 25 states and the District of Columbia which already had laws allowing marijuana for either medical or recreational use. Jim and Doug discuss whether or not 2016 will be viewed in history as the tipping point in nationwide marijuana legalization.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the number of officers shot and killed in ambush attacks now totals 20 — the highest since 1995. NLEOMF reports that 44 officers have been killed in fatal ambush shootings since 2014. Jim and Doug discuss this troubling trend, and what officers can do to protect themselves from ambush.

There’s no denying that there are private security people who have absolutely no business being in any way involved in law enforcement efforts. However, there are opportunities for sworn law enforcement professionals to develop relationships with the individuals in private security who are diligent about their chosen career, and who can provide excellent information to help prosecute cases. Jim and Doug discuss the ways in which the real cops and the “mall cops” can be better partners in fighting crime.

With a growing number of citizens listening to the Policing Matters podcast, we want to take this opportunity to directly address that segment of the audience. When a police officer stops a person for any reason — a traffic stop, a field interview, or another scenario — the cop wants one thing from the subject: compliance. Jim and Doug discuss what people can do to ensure that whatever the circumstance, everyone goes home safe after the encounter.

In watching the audience of the Policing Matters podcast grow, we have observed that a considerable portion of the people clicking and listening to the show are civilians. We theorize that among this group of listeners are police supporters and people who just want to know more about policing. We also believe there may be individuals who want to become a cop. With this in mind, Jim and Doug discuss the things that folks should (and should not) do as they prepare to join the noble profession.

During a standoff in Baltimore County (Md.) in August 2016, local police were able to convince Facebook to deactivate the account of a woman who was eventually shot in a confrontation with police. The online social network was largely lauded for their assistance to police in that matter. Meanwhile, during the Occupy movement several years ago, BART Police in California were widely criticized for shutting down the cellular phone signal and WiFi connectivity in the transit tunnels. Jim and Doug discuss how social media plays into modern police activity, and whether or not further cooperation is on the horizon.

At the 2016 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, Doug and Jim took the opportunity to speak to police leaders about some of the most important issues facing law enforcement today. From creating a Citizens Advisory Board to adopting the recommendations in the Task Force Report on 21st Century Policing, listen to what these very special guests had to say.

This weekend, law enforcement leaders from across the globe will descend on San Diego (Calif.) for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference and Expo. During the four-day event, more than 14,000 public safety professionals will have the opportunity to continue their education at more than 200 different seminar sessions. Further, a great deal of learning takes place in informal discussions among attendees in the hallways and at after-hours gatherings. Jim and Doug discuss the importance for police officers of attending such events as means of improving themselves.

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, so it’s an opportune time to discuss the threat to law enforcement posed by hackers both foreign and domestic. Police agencies have fallen prey to ransomware, which locks the owner of the data out until a fee is paid to the attacker, and have had personal information about officers made public by individuals who identify as being part of the group Anonymous. Further, individual officers have been similarly “doxxed.” Jim and Doug discuss some of the things that can be done to prevent an attack, as well as some steps to take in the event that an attack is successful.

Enforcing laws that address citizens’ quality of life has had a historically positive impact in preventing more serious crimes in areas not already rife with violence and lawlessness. For decades, the concept of Broken Windows Policing has successfully prevented increases in crime — in fact, it has been credited with widespread reduction in crime — in cities across the United States. Jim and Doug discuss the political pressure to draw back from this method of policing.

As we have recently seen in Charlotte (N.C.), a city can be torn apart overnight by looting, arson, and violence if a peaceful protest devolves into rioting and mayhem. Even in cities where police-community relations are good, there are often outside agitators who suddenly appear in town to cause chaos. Doug and Jim discuss how police leaders can prepare for the worst, which could be just one controversial incident away at any moment.

When citizens are fearful of being harassed or assaulted by indigent people living on the streets, they retreat from normal social interaction and leave a vacuum into which criminal elements can take up residence. When cities are faced with widespread homelessness whole neighborhoods can slip into decline. Jim and Doug discuss ways in which law enforcement has become the primary provider of social support services to homeless across the country, and the consequences of that fact.

On the 15 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we mourn the loss of nearly 3,000 Americans — 23 of whom were police officers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and 37 of whom were officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD). Even as we remember the past, we consider the present and look toward the future. Multiple terrorist attacks have occurred on our soil since that terrible Tuesday, and we must remain vigilant against any attacks being plotted today. Jim and Doug discuss how terrorism has changed in the past decade and a half.

In California, the governor recently signed into law several pieces of legislation that — if upheld in pending litigation — will turn many people who legally purchased certain semi-automatic rifles into felons overnight. Further, countless numbers of retired police officers who carry under HR-218 a Glock 17, 19, 22, or many other types of sidearms will become outlaws because those magazines exceed ten rounds. Anti-gun legislation is under consideration elsewhere as well. Cops across the country have for nearly a decade talked about how they would respond if ordered to enforce gun laws with which they disagree. Jim and Doug discuss the very real possibility that this may soon become an uncomfortable reality.

Louisiana recently became the first state to enact a "Blue Lives Matter" law, and similar legislation has been proposed in places like Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. These laws have been proposed in the wake of an increase in ambush attacks on police such as in Dallas and Baton Rouge. Can laws making assaulting a police officer a hate crime actually lower the number of assaults on cops? Jim and Doug discuss the idea.

Despite Dick Wolf’s portrayal of cops and prosecutors who work in lockstep to solve and prosecute crimes, in many cases, the relationship between these two elements of the justice system is anything but harmonious. Jim and Doug discuss the complex relationship between “the police, who investigate crime, and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders.”

A suicide prevention program may be a difficult “sell” in a police agency — especially one where a suicide has not occurred, or where there is an existing stigma about officers seeking the assistance of mental health professionals. Police leaders should create an environment in which officers are open to seeking peer support. Part of that is identifying the best supporters. Jim and Doug discuss the ways in which top-quality peer support programs can be built and maintained.

A fair number of officers eventually want to get out of a squad car and into a maritime unit, or onto a horse, or in the saddle of a bicycle. Jim and Doug discuss how those units differ from patrol, and offer some keys to successfully making the transition to a specialized assignment.

The Supreme Court recently ruled that if an officer makes an illegal stop and then discovers an arrest warrant, the stop and its fruit will not be excluded in court. Jim and Doug discuss how Strieff pokes a hole in the long-held doctrine that police and prosecutors cannot benefit with “the fruit of the poisonous tree” and how it impacts police interpretation of the Fourth Amendment’s search and seizure doctrine, and the accompanying exclusionary rule.

The best officers are continually looking for ways to improve their skills and abilities. There are myriad ways to go about that, but one often overlooked method is to read as much as possible to expand your understanding of a topic. Jim and Doug discuss a host of titles — some new, some old — that can help officers up their game. They also include some fiction titles for your summer vacation enjoyment.

With the Republican National Convention in Cleveland and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia fast approaching, officers would do well to leave politics for off-duty discussion. Jim and Doug discuss how on-duty cops should stay neutral despite what may be shouted at protests, and some thoughts about off-duty free speech by cops as well.

With an influx of refugees and migrants from war-torn regions in the Middle East, one might imagine airport security to be even more time-consuming and arduous than the TSA. But one might be wrong about that. Airport security in Europe is vastly more effective and efficient. This is perhaps because screeners in Europe are far better paid and far better trained. Much of that training is not just “how to stare at an X-ray screen.” Jim and Doug discuss how observational skills related to suspicious activity and behaviors is a better tactic than looking for “things.”

Some have criticized the three-hour period of time between the time Omar Mateen began his vicious terrorist attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in June, but there were some very good reasons for the “delay” in the response. Jim and Doug discuss the incident, and why the police did an excellent job in their response.

Our podcast discussing the fact that many agencies have enacted strict no-pursuit policies, with others adopting highly-restrictive policies that have all but rendered vehicle pursuits rare in those jurisdictions, generated a fairly heated discussion among cops. Jim and Doug read some of the comments and offer their thoughts

Jim and Doug discuss how misguided proposals put predators in closer proximity to potential victims, and how this kind of “harm reduction strategy” can actually have an adverse effect on public safety.

Following the PERF report “30 Guiding Principles,” many people outside of law enforcement were left to believe that de-escalation tactics and techniques are only now being introduced to police, when in fact, de-escalation has been taught and used by police officers for many years. Doug and Jim discuss how cops have used “Verbal Judo” and address when de-escalation tactics can (and cannot) be successful.

The stress of police work can take an emotional toll on officers, and sadly, sometimes that can adversely impact the relationships they have with their spouses, partners, and friends outside of law enforcement. Jim and Doug discuss what cops can do to try to minimize the negativity they might accidentally be bringing home.

Our podcast discussing the fact that cops are increasingly being asked to carry and administer Narcan — the drug that saves the lives of individuals overdosing on opioids — promoted an enthusiastic discussion in the comments section below that segment. Jim and Doug read some of the comments and speak to what those individuals were saying.

Jim and Doug discuss how police officers need to be extra vigilant toward signs that a kid is being abused (behaviors, appearance, etc.) and how police should take time whenever they can to reinforce to mandatory reporters that it is not only their duty to report abuse, but in many cases it is a misdemeanor to fail to report.

Increasingly it would seem that the general public has a higher level of tolerance of visible tattoos on officers than many police leaders do. When in uniform, cops are (according to most policies) supposed to all have a “uniform” appearance — no additional or special adornments. Jim and Doug discuss no-tattoo policies, as well as the rare cases when police officers get tattoos indicating participation in things like a fatal OIS or other sensitive incidents.

People with autism — children and adults alike — as well as people with other cognitive or developmental disabilities are less likely to commit a crime than others, but they are likely to come into contact with police due to a variety of reasons. For example, ASD individuals may be bullied or victimized, they may go missing (especially ASD children), and might be prone to have emotional outbreaks. With April being Autism Awareness Month, Jim and Doug discuss some of the issues related to officer contact with ASD subjects.

Jim and Doug discuss the hot-button issue of no-pursuit policies, highlight some of the ways in which LEOs can bring a pursuit to a safe and successful conclusion, and explore some of the issues related to officer contact with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) subjects.

Increasingly, law enforcement agencies are utilizing social media to solve (and in some cases, prevent) crime. Whether via automated software tools or individual investigators and detectives digging into the internet manually, social media has become an invaluable investigative resource.

Jim and Doug offer key tips for making the jump up to the next level in the chain of command.

Doug and Jim discuss the impact officers can have in saving lives as the country faces a growing heroin epidemic, keys that allow cops to make the jump up to the next level in the chain of command, and how police use social media to solve crimes.

In what can be charitably called an innovative approach, police in Richmond (Calif.) and other places across the country are paying monthly stipends to known criminals in return for the promise that they not commit crimes. Jim and Doug examine how the program came to be.

Social media sites have claimed the job of more than one police officer — even a chief can get bagged for their “free speech” on the Internet. Jim and Doug discuss where things can go wrong, as well as positive ways in which police are utilizing these web-based instant communications tools.

Jim and Doug discuss how the first responder disciplines can work better together, and just as importantly, train together for more effective multi-disciplinary response.